It’s a new year, and Northland Pioneer College’s (NPC) District Governing Board (DGB) has a new member. Rosabel “Rosie” Sekayumptewa will now represent the Navajo County Community College Board for District 2 of the college’s coverage area, which encompasses portions of the Navajo and Hopi Reservations north of the I-40 corridor including Dilkon, Indian Wells, Greasewood, and Keams Canyon. Also included in District 2 are the portion of Holbrook north of I-40, Joseph City and the area of the Winslow Levee.
Navajo County School Superintendent Jalyn Gerlich swore Sekayumptewa in on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the college’s Holbrook, Painted Desert Campus. Sekayumptewa will take the seat of former DGB member Elias Jouen. Her term will end on Dec. 31, 2024, at which time, if elected, Sekayumptewa will serve the remainder of the position’s six-year term.
Having served NPC in various roles, Sekayumptewa has a rich history with the college. She was an academic advisor at both NPC’s Hopi and Winslow locations, NPC’s Hopi center manager, and the assistant center manager at NPC’s Holbrook campus.
Growing up on the reservation, Sekayumptewa knows the challenges native American students face; particularly when it comes to obtaining an education. “My parents didn’t have a formal education,” she explained. “They never went to school and did not speak English. But I believe, and would proudly say, that my father held a ‘cultural’ doctoral-level education in the philosophy and belief system of the Diné people.”
Sekayumptewa noted, “I spoke only Navajo until I was 7 years old and I will always be an English language learner.” In addition to language barriers, she said, “Many of the parents growing up and living on the reservation today do not have college degrees, and thus no professional careers. They can’t talk to their children about obtaining a degree or a professional career; be it as a physician, specialized nurse, engineer, lawyer, etc. Because they don’t have the experience to do so. I know that not everyone is destined for or wants to go to college. Higher education also offers courses that can prepare someone for a career by earning a technical/career readiness certificate. Parents need to talk to their children about these opportunities.”
When Sekayumptewa graduated from Holbrook High School in 1967 attending NPC was not yet an option. NPC did not lay roots in the area until several years later. With no local resources for continued education, she moved to San Francisco by way of the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) relocation program. She attended San Francisco’s Munson Business College, finished their accounting program, and found her first job with Bank of America.
After resettling in Arizona, she enrolled in Phoenix College, obtained an associate’s degree, and went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Arizona State University. She has held various positions in healthcare administration over the years. She served with the Arizona Department of Health Services, and with the Navajo County Department of Health Services as a liaison working in tribal communities to promote healthy living.
Sekayumptewa is also no newcomer to policymaking and diplomacy. “I’ve left some tracks on Capitol Hill in D.C. as an advocate and lobbyist for Dilkon Medical Center,” she said.
For Sekayumptewa, the prospect of making a real difference in students’ lives is exciting. “NPC is a great resource and has a strong understanding of economic needs, and how to build an academic foundation for the young people in our area.” She said, “I can assist with that. I love making professional connections. I love to network and I love to listen. I want to be open to new ideas, and always be talking to people from across the board to make our communities better.”
